Three Wuhan gain-of function researchers were first known Covid cases, say reporters

The earliest known Covid-19 cases were gain-of-function researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, says a report authored by three independent journalists.

COVID-19's 'Patients Zero' May Have Been Wuhan Lab Scientists, Report Finds | Reason | Robby Soave: 

June 16, 2023 - "The first three people [known] to contract COVID-19 were scientists working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), claims a new report — a finding that could confirm the lab leak theory of COVID-19's origins.... 

"The report — authored by independent journalists Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and Alex Gutentag, and published on Substack — names Ben Hu, Yu Ping, and Yan Zhu as 'three of the earliest people to become infected with SARS-CoV-2' in fall 2019.  Not only did these three scientists work at the WIV, but they worked specifically on gain-of-function research; Hu in particular was considered a 'star pupil' of Shi Zhengli, dubbed the 'bat woman' for her work studying coronaviruses in bats. 

"'Ben Hu is essentially the next Shi Zhengli,' molecular biologist Alina Chan told the Substack authors. "He had been making chimeric SARS-like viruses and testing these in humanized mice. If I had to guess who would be doing this risky virus research and most at risk of getting accidentally infected, it would be him'....

"The findings have not yet been confirmed by other journalists, though several government agencies — including the FBI and the Energy Department — have stated that the lab leak is the most likely theory of COVID-19's origins. In February, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News that COVID-19 most likely resulted from 'a potential lab incident in Wuhan, China.'

"In March, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation requiring the federal government to declassify all intelligence relating to the pandemic's origins. The deadline for declassification is June 18, which means whatever information caused the FBI to reach its determination should become publicly available in a few days."

Read more: https://reason.com/2023/06/16/covid-19-patients-zero-wuhan-lab-leak-shellenberger/

REPORT: Wuhan Lab Workers FIRST Covid Infections | Counter Points | Breaking Points | June 14, 2023:

Read report: https://public.substack.com/p/first-people-sickened-by-covid-19?r=58hqy